Razor blade sharpener



April25,1944- c. G. BARRETT 2 r 2,347,246

RAZOR BLADE SHAR PENER Filed Sept. 17, 1941 Patented Apr. 25, 1944UNITED STATE S PATENT- aorFict-J 2,347,240 r aAzon BLADE sHARPENEaCharles Barrett, Alexandria, Va. 1" Application September 17, 1941,Serial No. 411,239

9 Claims,

This invention relates to a razor blade sharpener or honer, and has foran object to provide improved razor blade sharpeners which will besimple and inexpensive of construction and will be easy and certain ofoperation.

A further object of this invention is to provide a razor blade honerwhich may be made of cast or pressed metal such as steel, but maylikewise be made of any other suitable material such as brass orcomposition of matter, one well known composition of matter serviceablefor this purpose being a phenolic condensation product com.- merciallyknown as Bakelite. Likewise any other suitable material may be usedwhich is capable of being made into the particular form or outline ofthis invention and which maybe provided with a smooth surface.

Many razor blade honers and sharpeners ar already well known along thegeneral line of this invention including the use of the inside of adrinking glass, but in all theprior known forms the principal defectpresent is that their successful operation is too dependent upon thepersonal element of the operator.. The edges ofa double-edged razorblade for which this invention is intended are at a double angle to theplane of the body of the blade, and it is therefore necessary whenhoning or sharpening the edge of the blade that the blade be held at theproper angle to the sharpening surface within very small limits.

When using the form of power known sharpener typified by the inside of adrinking glass, the finger of the operator is usually placed on onesurface of the blade as the blade is moved back and forth over thesharpening surface. When so operated, it is necessary that just theproper amount of pressure be placed on the top of the blade in order tobend the blade to the'proper curvature to make the edges of the blade tocome into proper contact with the sharpening surface. With too littlepressure, there will be no sharp ening effect. With too great pressure,the blade wil be bent so much that the bevel at the edges will cause theextreme edges to be bent away from contact with the sharpening surfacethus likewise producing no sharpening effect.

With this invention, the sharpening effect takes place at fourconstantly changing points on a double-edged razor blade, two points oneach edge, and the weight of the razor blade is relied on for keepingthe blade at just the proper angle and just the proper pressure on thesefour points so as to produce the best sharpening effect.

. This sharpener represents the introduction of a basically newprinciple and design into the practice or art of maintaining acontinuously sharp and effective cutting edge on the conventional typeof double-edge safety razor blade. Omittin reference to thevarioustypesof more or less complicated stroppingi devices, theconventiona1 type of hone sharpener heretofore available has consistedof a one-piece molded abrasive formed with a more or less suitablycurved plain concave surfaceover which the blade is moved in varying andirregular paths as determined by the pressure and push of the forefingeron the blade. Obviously,thetravel of the blade over the sharpeningsurface will never repeat itself exactly,and the pressure of theforefinger on theblade'will vary'as' between different individuals andwill also vary'from day to day for the same individual, resulting irracontinuously varying bending efi'ect on the blade and a correspondinglycontinuously varying sharpening angle 'for' the cutting edge of theblade with respect to the surface of the sharpener. I

With a thing so delicate as the edge of a razor blade, it is definitelynecessary that these variables beeliminated, and that the blade in itstravel over the'sharpener be confined to a fixed and pro-determined pathwhich 'must positively repeat itself'at every stroke, and that thepressure applied against the 'sharpeningsurface shall also bepre-determine'dand of just the correct value to give the desiredsharpening effect. When so arranged, "the sharpening "process becomessemi-automatic and positive in its results, mere ly'depending upon thehand to impart motion to the sharpener and blade. These desirable andnecessary actions are obtained by the simple expedients ofusingasuitably designed box or container'to'jlimidand define the path of theblade with respect to the' sharpener, and by so designing the surface ofthe sharpener in respect to its contact withthe cutting edge of"theblade that the weight'of theblade automatically and necessarilycreates the proper unit pressure of blade on sharpener at points ofcontact...

With the foregoingand other objects in view, this invention comprisesthe combination, construction and arrangement of parts hereinafterclaimed, disclosed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing,-wherein: l

Fig.1.is a perspective view of the sharpener within the container; '1 1Fig. 2 is a perspective view: of the sharpener with the blade thereon inoperative sharpening position Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the sharpenerof this invention;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a partly broken away view of the housing and cover in whichthe sharpener is kept;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-45 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 1-1 of Fig. 5.

Thereis shownat II), the razor sharpener of this inventionwhich'consists ofa box or housing I I to which may be applied a cover I9for closing the same and keeping dust or grit from accumulating on thesharpener block I2. This sharpener block I2 is the essence of thisinvention and may be made of a suitable abrasive material, cast, molded,shaped or machined to the shape and form shown, depending upon thematerial of which it is to be made.

This block I2 has a fiat rectangular bottom I3 and flat rectangular endsI4 so shaped that they fit within the bottom and endsof the box II. Thetop surface I5 is in the-form of a section of a cylinder of suitableradius, the width of the block being just equal to or veryslightly-greater than the cutting edge lfi'of a conventional sizeddouble-edged razorblade I1, which is to be sharpened thereon.

Upstanding from this concave surface I5 are a plurality of ridges I8forming a diamondshaped outline, symmetrically placed with respect tothe, sides and ends of the block I0. As will beseen, the ridges I 8cross each other at points and 2|, the'points ZIlbeing in the centerline between the ends I4 of the block and very close to the-side edgesthereof, while thepoints 2| are in th center, line between the sideedges of the block and close-to the ends Ilof; the block.

The housing I I'consists of a small box suitably sized to. fit aboutthe, block along the bottom andends thereoflbut slightly wider than theblock, by the thickness of 1 two false sides;22. Each of these falsesides 2;2 are cut away as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, so-as to provide stops23 cooperating withthe notched; necks 24 of the razor blade I1, thethickness 'of thesefalse'sides being substantially equal to: or somewhatless than the distance: of the, notched necks 24 extending beyond theend points of the razor edges l6.

One of the sides 25 of the housing II is providedwith acentrally'located finger notch 26 extending to just below the centerpoint of the block I2. The; cover -l9 is provided with: oppositelydisposed shallow finger notches 21' to facilitate removing the cover I9-from the housingor. box II. e

In operation, the cover I9 is removed from the box II in order to usethe sharpenerwhich,

however, is not-removedbut is left within the frame or boxI-I. Then,holding the sharpener in the box with the cover removed in the palm ofthe left hand with the finger notch 26 to the right, grasp the blade atthe end between thumb and forefinger of .the right handand lay the bladeII. across the'sharp'ener ridge I8 in the position shown in Fig. 2,using the forefinger at the finger or thumb notch 26 to ease the bladeI! at the right end-gently down to the surface of the ridges I8 of thesharpener block I 2.- Then grasp the sharpener box'between theforefinger and thumb of the right hand 28, as shown in Fig. 2, and shakethe sharpener toward and from the body just vigorously enough tomake-the blade travel from end to end of its stroke as determined byblade stops 23 at the sides of the box for ten or a dozen full strokesand finish with a similar number of short strokes, slowly working theblade from end to end of the sharpener by suitably inclining thesharpener toward and away from the body while continuing to shake thesharpener in short and fairly rapid movements. Then transfer thesharpener to the left hand, removing blade I1 by using the forefinger ofthe right hand at the finger notch 26 to raise the blade from thesurface of the sharpener sufficiently to grasp it between the thumb andforefinger. Then, reverse the blade and repeat the sharpening operationon the other side of the blade edges in the same manner as describedabove.

It will be apparent that the sharpening effect will take place on theblade edges at constantly changing point contacts between the bladeedges I6 and the ridges I8 as the blade I! slides back and forththereover.

This action applied to a new blade will appreciably improve its shavingqualities and, when repeated about every third day, will prolong thelife of a blade from two to three months. After using, the cover I9should be replaced on the box to protect the sharpening surface fromdust and dirt.

The novel features and the operation of this device will be apparentfrom the foregoing description. While the device has been shown and thestructure described in detail, it is obvious that this invention is notto be considered limited to the exact form disclosed, and that changesmay be made therein within the scope of what is claimed withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, whatis claimed is:

1'. A razor blade sharpener or honer comprising a substantiallyrectangular member adapted to be held in the hand of an operator, saidrectangularmember having an upper concav surface, a plurality-ofcriss-crossed angular ridges upstandingfrom said concave surface toprovide constantly changing point contact surfaces as the blade is movedparallel to the longitudinal ,sides, means for keeping the razor bladein proper angular relation to the contact point sharpening surfaces ofsaid ridges, said means comprising a housing in which said sharpenerblock is retained, said sharpener block being of a Width substantiallyequal to the length of the blade edges, and false sides in saidframework between the sides of said sharpening block and the sides ofsaid housing, saidfa-lse sides being of a thickness not greater than thelength of a razor blade neck beyond the blade edges, said false sidesbeing cut away to a point slightly distant fromv the ends of thesharpener block to provide stops cooperating with necks of the blade tolimit the travel of'the blade over the sharpening surfaces.

2. A razor blade sharpener or honer comprising a substantiallyrectangular member adapted to be held in the hand of an operator, saidrectangular member havin an upper concave surface, a pluralit ofcriss-crossed angular ridges upstanding from said concave surface toprovide constantly changing point contact surfaces as the blade is movedparallel to the longitudinal sides, meansfor keeping the razor blade inproper angular relation to the contact point sharpening surfaces of saidridges, said means comprising a housing in which said sharpener block isretained, said sharpener block being of a width substantially equal tothe length of the blade edges,

and false sides in said framework between the sides of said sharpeningblock and the sides of said housing, said false sides being of athickness not greater than the length of a razor blade neck beyond theblade edges, said false sides being cut away to a point slightly distantfrom the ends of the sharpener block to provide stops cooperating withnecks of the blade to limit the travel of the blade over the sharpeningsurfaces, one of said sides having a finger-notch extendin thereinadjacent its center permitting proper placement and removal of the bladefrom the sharpening surface.

3. A razor blade sharpener or honer comprising a substantiallyrectangular member adapted to be held in the hand of an operator, saidrectangular member having an upper concave surface, a plurality ofcries-crossed angular continuous ridges upstanding from said concavesurface to provide constantly changing point contact surfaces arrangedto form progressively and repetitiously, continuous straight linecontact at each point of blade support as the blade is moved parallel tothe longitudinal sides, guide means for keeping the razor blade inproper angular relation to the contact point sharpening surfaces of saidridges, and stop means cooperating with blade necks to limit the travelof the blade.

4. A razor blade sharpener or honer comprising a substantiallyrectangular member adapted to be held in the hand of an operator, saidrectangular member having an upper concave surface, a plurality ofangular continuous rid es upstanding from said concave surface toprovide constantly changing point contact surfaces arranged to formprogressively and repetitiously, continuous straight line contacts ateach point of blade support as the blade is moved parallel to thelongitudinal sides, guide means for keeping the razor blade in properangular relation to the contact point sharpening surfaces of saidridges, and stop means cooperating with blade necks to limit the travelof the blade.

5. A razor blade sharpener or honer comprising a substantiallyrectangular member adapted to be held in the hand of an operator, saidrectangular member having an upper concave surface, a plurality ofangular ridges upstanding from said concave surface to provideconstantly changing point contact surfaces as the blade is movedparallel to the longitudinal sides, and guide means cooperating with theends of blade necks to guide the blade in its travel for keeping therazor blade in proper angular relation to the contact point sharpeningsurfaces of said ridges.

6. A razor blade sharpener or honer comprising a substantiallyrectangular member adapted to be held in the hand of an operator, saidrectangular member havin an upper concave surface, a plurality ofangular ridges upstanding from said concave surface to provideconstantly changing point contact surfaces as the blade is movedparallel to the longitudinal sides, guide means cooperatin with the endsof blade necks to guide the blade in its travel for keeping the razorblade in proper angular relation to the contact point sharpeningsurfaces of said ridges, and stop means cooperating with the sides ofthe blade necks to limit the travel of the blade.

7. A razor blade sharpener or honer comprising a substantiallyrectangular member adapted to be held in the hand of an operator, saidrectangular member having an upper concave surface, and a plurality ofcriss-crossed angular continuous ridges upstanding from said concavesurface to form a single diamond shaped sharpening sur face whosediagonals are substantially equal respectively to the length of thestroke of the blade and the Width of the cuttin edge Of the blade.

8. A razor blade sharpener or honer comprising a substantiallyrectangular member adapted to be held in the hand of an operator, saidrectangular member having an upper concave surface, a plurality ofcriss-crossed angular continuous ridges upstandin from said concavesurface to form a single diamond shaped sharpening surface whosediagonals are substantially equal respectively to the length of thestroke of the blade and the width of the cutting edge of the blade, andstop means limiting the stroke of the blade.

9. A razor blade sharpener or honer comprising a substantiallrectangular member adapted to be held in the hand of an operator, saidrectangular member havin an upper concave surface, a plurality ofcriss-crossed angular continuous ridges upstanding from said concavesurface to form a single diamond shaped sharpening surface whosediagonals are substantially equal respectively to the length of thestroke of the blade and the width of the cutting edge of the blade, stopmeans limiting the stroke of the blade, and guide means maintaining thelateral position of the blade with respect to the sharpener.

CHARLES G. BARRETT.

